Seaneen Heaney, St Maria Goretti NS

www.stmariagorettinursery.co.uk

Subject or Primary school year: Nursery Principal/ Teacher

Your place of birth:  Belfast

Studied at: St Mary's University College, Belfast and Stranmillis University College, Belfast

First job: Customer service at Marks and Spencer

What it taught me: The importance of social interaction and communication with customers and other members of the team.

Family/status: Mum to Oilibhear and Cuinn

Best advice you could give someone thinking of a teaching career : To go for it! There will be challenges but it is very rewarding. You'll make mistakes but you'll learn from them. Introduce yourself to new schools and new communities in person. Join online learning commuities and accept help readily when it is offered.

I graduated from St Mary's University College in 2010 with B.Ed Irish. I taught in Christ the King Primary School, Drumaness and St Aloysius Primary School and Nursery Unit, Lisburn before securing a permanent teaching post in St Maria Goretti Nursery School taking the role of SENCo/Learning Support Co-ordinator following graduation from St Mary's University College with a Master's in Special Educational Needs.

During my time as nursery teacher in St Maria Goretti Nursery School, I completed the Post Qualifying Leadserhip Programme in Stranmillis University, became a member of the Chartered College of Teaching and stepped into an Acting Principal role in the same school in August 2022. I love my work in St Maria Goretti Nursery School. The community of St John the Evangelist Parish have always been incredibly welcoming and the nursery team at St Maria Goretti Nursery are one in a million!